Method and apparatus for controlling an animal

ABSTRACT

Method and apparatus for controlling a domestic animal to prevent it from moving into or out of a predetermined area wherein a signal emitting wire is placed to surround the area, and a low-powered, high voltage receiver circuit is mounted to the animal such as through a collar for receiving the signal from the wire and producing a physical effect on the animal as it approaches the wire.



1. A system for controlling the movement of an animal relative to anarea, the system comprising in combination, means associated with saidarea for producing a signal, and an electronic receiver means to beplaced on and carried by an animal, said receiver means including analarm means for producing a physical effect annoying to the animal forcontrolling the movement of the animal relative to said area and meansfor receiving the signal from said signal means for initiating operationof said alarm means, said receiver means further including means forcausing the intensity of the physical effect to be increased as theanimal moves closer to said signal means.
 2. The system defined in claim1 wherein said means for producing said signal includes a wire carryingan A.C. current alternating at a sub-broadcast band frequency, andwherein said receiver means includes a low-powered battery operated highvoltage circuit.
 3. The system defined in claim 1 wherein said means forproducing the signal encloses said area.
 4. An article for attachment toan animal for purposes of controlling the same relative to apredetermined area, said article including an electronic circuit, saidcircuit including means for receiving a signal encompassing said area,alarm means responsive to said signal for producing a physical effectfor controlling movement of the animal and means for varying theintensity of said alarm means depending upon the animal''s changingposition relative to the boundary of the area.
 5. The article defined inclaim 4 wherein said means for receiving said signal includes anantenna, and wherein said circuit further includes amplifier means foramplifying the signal, an energy storing circuit, a low-power inductioncoil connected to said alarm means to operate the same, and anoscillator circuit connected to said energy storing circuit and saidcoil for powering the coil to operate said alarm means.
 6. The articledefined in claim 5 including a low-power dry-cell battery connected tothe circuit to provide power for the same, and wherein said coil is aHigh voltage low-power induction coil.
 7. The article defined in claim 6wherein said antenna is tuned to a predetermined frequency.
 8. Thearticle defined in claim 7 wherein said alarm means includes a conductorfor shocking the animal.
 9. The article defined in claim 7 wherein saidalarm means includes a loudspeaker for producing a noise.
 10. A methodof controlling the movement of an animal with respect to a certainpredetermined area comprising the steps of establishing a signalencompassing said area, and equipping the animal with an electronicreceiving means responsive to said signal for producing a physicaleffect annoying to the animal when the animal approaches certainpositions relative to the boundary of said area.
 11. The method definedin claim 10 wherein said signal is established by energizing a wireenclosing said area to prevent the animal from crossing said wire intoor out of said area.
 12. A system for controlling the movement of ananimal relative to a predetermined area, the system comprising incombination, means associated with said area for producing a signalencompassing said area, and an electronic receiver means to be placed onand carried by an animal, said receiver means including an alarm meansfor producing a physical effect annoying to the animal for controllingthe movement of the animal relative to said area and means for receivingthe signal from said signal means depending upon the position of theanimal relative to the boundary of the area for initiating operation ofsaid alarm means.
 13. The system defined in claim 12, wherein said meansfor producing the signal is a wire enclosing said area.